Schwartz says he "trusts" CB Jacob Lacey

Lacey stepped into a starter's role against the Rams last week in place of the injured Chris Houston and played well

Lions head coach Jim Schwartz said back in March that cornerback Jacob Lacey “went under the radar as a signee.”

The Lions signed the fourth-year free agent cornerback to add experience and talent to it’s secondary and to compete for the starting right cornerback spot left vacant by Eric Wright’s departure.

Lacey started 27 games in his first three seasons in the NFL with the Colts. His signing was viewed as a nice addition to the Lions' secondary at the time.

Less than two weeks into the regular season, Lacey has all the sudden become one of the Lions’ most valued commodities because of their injury situation in the secondary.

He stepped into a starter's role against the Rams last week in place of the injured Chris Houston (ankle) and played well.

With Houston doubtful to play Sunday in San Francisco, and rookie Bill Bentley already being ruled out with a concussion, Lacey will be asked to do it again this week.

“I knew when I came here that at some point in time I was going to have to play, whether it be starting or nickel or dime or whatever,” he said Friday.

“I think I try and do a pretty good job of preparing myself as if I’m going to start, even if I don’t, and just trying to be ready so I don’t have to get ready.”

Lacey said he came to Detroit with a chip on his shoulder after being discarded by the Colts in their rebuilding efforts and still plays like he's trying to prove something every time he steps on the field.

“I wanted to get back out here and prove myself all over again,” he said. “The chip was there and it’s still here and I just have to go out there and perform on Sunday.”

Lions head coach Jim Schwartz said the best thing any coach could say about a player Friday when he told the media he trusts Lacey.

“He’s earned trust since the day he got here; he’s a good player,” Schwartz said. “He’s a young veteran; has starting experience. (He) played on some pretty good teams in Indianapolis. He knows how to do his job. It certainly hasn’t been a surprise to us. We saw good things from him on tape.”

Lacey will man one of the starting corner spots against the 49ers Sunday with veteran Drayton Florence likely to be on the other side if Houston can’t go. The pair might only have one start between them in a Lions uniform – Lacey’s from last week – but they have 124 combined over their careers.

“I feel like I’m getting a lot more comfortable in the scheme and know how things run and work around here,” Lacey said. “My confidence in what we’re doing on defense and me being comfortable, I think, is going up and it has been up since I’ve been here.

“I felt like I went out and competed pretty good in that game and I’m just trying to carry that over to this week of practice and into the game on Sunday.”